Virtual Production Lab

The Virtual Production Lab (VPL) brings the latest in game development technology to campus.

By working with industry and academic partners, students and faculty, the VPL will provide a complete development environment from game engines and source control to lighting effects. The VPL will bring together core environments for PC, Mobile, Social and Console gaming. Faculty and students will have access to the latest software from anywhere. Construction of the VPL is in process.

Creation

The VPL exists to respond to three needs:

Game developers often find that recent college graduates need more practical experience with contemporary development environments. The experience gap results from the rapid changes in development technology and the restrictions and complexity involved in supporting development environments on academic networks.

Students and faculty need additional supports in order to bring up multiple development environments and manage the ever-changing nature of game technology during the course of an academic year.

Technology providers are challenged when working across multiple academic institutions. Each institution has its own process making interactions less efficient.

MassDiGI is tackling these problems by creating the Virtual Production Lab.

Students and faculty will have access to the latest technologies in a complete development environment.

MassDiGI will provide a technical director who will maintain the environments and support students and faculty.

Technology providers will be able to deal with a single team that delivers services to multiple institutions.

Access & Sponsorship

The VPL will be open to any partner institution.

Separately, sponsors receive:

Their technology in the hands of students

Single point of contact that supports multiple educational institutions

Access to educational materials and forums

Support for special classes, user groups and events

Branding on MassDiGI Website and at events

This program is under development.

Please contact Monty Sharma (monty.sharma(at)massdigi.org) if you would like more information on the VPL.

Support Us

What people are saying…

Not only did the MassDiGI Game Challenge bring together students and game developers to make games, but MassDiGI also provided numerous educational sessions drawing insights from executives in the Boston area and beyond all lending a fresh perspective on game development. It was a pleasure to participate as a mentor / speaker and to interact with such an enthusiastic group of students, who I was glad to see walk away with actionable goals and a concept to pitch to potential investors.

Elliott Mitchell, Founder, VDA and Boston Unity Group

The Summer Innovation Program has been invaluable. It was one of the most eye-opening, wonderful experiences of my life.

Loren Sherman, MIT '17 and SIP '14

MassDiGI did an amazing job organizing the event and bringing so many great developers, mentors and speakers together. The feedback and experience I received during the Game Challenge was extremely valuable, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is making a game and wants it to succeed.

Jenna Hoffstein, Founder, Little Worlds Interactive

This past summer was, without a doubt, the most productive, amazing, incredible, fun time I have had in my college life. I can’t thank MassDiGI enough for the experience it allowed me to have with the other incredible artists and programmers I was able to meet and work with. The staff and every mentor who stopped by helped us believe in ourselves and created a fantastic game dev environment for all of us. If there’s one thing I learned from this program, it’s that you won’t discover what you are capable of until you just go out and try your best at something.

Renzo Heredia, Berklee College of Music '15 and SIP '14

I directly correlate all I know about this industry to MassDiGI. Thanks for giving students an opportunity to open their eyes and ears to what they need to know.

Ali Swei, Becker College '14 and SIP '12

Massachusetts is not only one of the largest digital games clusters in the United States, representing a $2 billion industry and employing approximately 4,000 people [directly and indirectly] across the state, but we are also home to strong academic institutions focused on digital game design and development. This presents a real opportunity for MassDiGI to promote collaboration between academia and industry, nurture existing and new talent, and strengthen the industry’s growing presence in the Commonwealth. We’re excited about the partnerships already underway and the future collaborations this new institute will foster.